The Wealth Vault

Talking with a cherished member of my church family, Bill Konneker, after dad's funeral Wednesday, it was very comforting to know that someone else had realized, or had given a known reality more thought. Why does it seem that we only come to realize the importance of people or should I be more specific in saying, our relationship with people, when we are gathered at the funeral or wake of someone that we all have loved? What worldly things can we take with us when we go? Do we really understand that things of this world are just that? How do all of the worldly things we have acquired compare to those relationships? How can it be that we can place more importance on material things than on the one true thing that God has given us for eternity? Relationship defines the true essence of our creator. It's all about relationship. We go about our daily routines in this hustle bustle world, dedicating our lives to building wealth but can we take the kind of wealth that we treasure the most, with us when we go? How do you measure your wealth? Is it the nice bank account or 401k you have spent your life building or the beautiful home with new cars in the garage? May I suggest, that maybe in God's kingdom, these things are worthless?

Looking around the many faces of family and friends at my dad's service and burial, it was evident that he was dearly loved. My dad was the kind of person who always put everyone else's needs before his. He spent his life helping family and friends right up until the very end. He inspired people to go above and beyond the normal, as evident in the gracious letter and gift, which he treasured, sent to him by a friend who in his own words said that he and dad had the kind of relationship that couldn't be explained. They seemed to be at the opposite ends of the relationship spectrum.

There is a reason for that. There is a reason for everything. God created us to be in relationship. We are meant to be in relationship with him and relationship with each other. Gen 2:18, The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone." Aloneness is contrary to God's nature; in all eternity, there had never been aloneness before. When confronted by the Pharisees in Matthew 22:36-40, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind'. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
It can't be any clearer. God's greatest desire is for us to be wealthy in relationships. Whatever we must do to exist in this world we must do. Beyond that we must learn to invest every second left in building relationships, because in the end they ARE all we can take with us!

Two things I would like to leave you with. The words of my dad's friend…. the one at the opposite end of the spectrum…

Dear Roy,
It was great to see you up close the other day instead of when we pass each other in our vehicles. You always have something to say about my running. Little did you know that I see you as a "runner of Life" and you are running a great race. Us runners have medals and trophies and it is about time you had your own, so here it is - about time!.
Wishing you quiet joys.
Your friend,
Mark Hopping

…and a poem found with some other personal effects belonging to my dad. The poem was written in his handwriting, probably copied from the newspaper which he read faithfully for many years.

There must be something after death.
behind the toil of a man.
There must exist a God Divine,
who is working out a plan.
And this brief journey that we know,
as life must really be,
The gateway to a finer world,
that someday we shall see.
-author unknown

It meant so much to him that he copied it and left it to be found for those who may have had questions about his relationship with God. I am not one of those because I was fortunate to have this question answered by him personally, and also by God's revelation to me. These two things are simple evidence that my dad believed that building wealth in relationships was more important than building wealth in any other thing. What will you fill your vault with?

I'm gonna miss ya dad……we all are……but we will see you again.